A patient being carried out of the district headquarters hospital after floodwater entered the premises . Telegraph pictures

Balasore, Oct. 21: Baripada town, the district headquarters town of Mayurbhanj district, witnessed an unprecedented flood in the aftermath of Cyclone Phailin. Besides residential areas, the district headquarters hospital was severely affected.

Water from the river Budhabalanga inundated vast stretches of land and gushed into the wards of the hospital’s ground floor. Patients had to be shifted to the first floor. Several machines, medicine stock and furniture were damaged.

D.G. Pani, 60, a resident of Baghra Road in the town, said: “I have never seen or even heard of such a flood in this area.” Patients suffered a lot of problems with several wings of the 300-bed hospital remaining defunct for three or four days. The district administration has deputed an IAS officer under probation to supervise the sanitation and restoration of the hospital. “We are trying to restore the services as well as maintain sanitation in the hospital,” said the Manish Agarwal, the officer.

The hospital administration estimates the loss to be worth around Rs 20 crore, including medicine worth Rs 4 crore, equipment of Rs 2 crore and furniture worth Rs 3 crore.

District project manager Dipak Sahu said: “The detailed estimation of loss is yet to be made. But it could be about Rs 20 crore. The eye care unit was worst affected with some machines damaged. About 80 beds and mattresses became unfit for use.”

Chief district medical officer Chandan Kumar Murmu said: “We need 150 beds for our hospital and this request has been placed before the department.”